Town councillors still opposed to plant plans

Sleaford Town councillors have again voted to oppose revised plans for an anaerobic digester energy plant proposed for farmland between Holdingham and Leasingham raising a number of concerns.

Members commented at their applications committee on Wednesday, to be passedto North Kesteven District Council’s planning committee on October 28.

Revised plans by FKB show a reduction in height of the digester tanks by 7.8m to 11m in response to concerns about visual intrusion and a revised transport plan to tackle impacts on the road network as access would be via the A15, close to traffic for Holdingham roundabout and crossing the Sustrans Lottery-funded cycle path between Sleaford and Leasingham.

Committee chairman Coun Jan Mathieson said the cycle path was still being compromised.

The digester would use farm waste and crops to generate methane gas to generate power.

Coun Ken Fernandes objected to the farm track being upgraded to a ‘full industrial road’.

“At a later date they can convert that whole area into an industrial park,” he said.

He added that tractors delivering material would increase hold-ups on major routes nearby.